GUNS/RLTD Can a lock on a gun safe be picked by someone who picks locks?

H

Hometown

No place like home
This is a family problem I have. Doing my brother a favor, giving his granddaughter and shack a temporary place to live. I have two rooms of storage things including a safe with some good things.
They live in the rest of the place.

Then in a conversation with brother after they are there awhile the guy can pick locks. Brother likes him. I don't know him.
You know that funny feeling, no good deed goes unpunished?
Should I worry?
 
L

Locknload

Contributing Member
Hometown said:
This is a family problem I have. Doing my brother a favor, giving his granddaughter and shack a temporary place to live. I have two rooms of storage things including a safe with some good things.
They live in the rest of the place.

Then in a conversation with brother after they are there awhile the guy can pick locks. Brother likes him. I don't know him.
You know that funny feeling, no good deed goes unpunished?
Should I worry?
Click to expand...
Yes
 
Milkweed Host

Milkweed Host

Veteran Member
Well, it all depends.
If you safe lock is a disc tumbler, yes, it's a walk in the park.
Tubular are more difficult.
Combination locks would be extremely difficult without drilling that little hole for a peep.
 
db cooper

db cooper

Resident Secret Squirrel
Why bother wasting time picking a lock or messing with a dial or digital combination? It's much easier to just go through a sidewall with a metal cutter. The sidewalls are less than an 1/8 inch thick on many. I've watched videos of people doing it with common tools in less than 15 minutes. That includes taking out guns.
 
P

Profit of Doom

Dismember
Milkweed Host said:
Well, it all depends.
If you safe lock is a disc tumbler, yes, it's a walk in the park.
Tubular are more difficult.
Combination locks would be extremely difficult without drilling that little hole for a peep.
Click to expand...
There are devices, pricey I’m sure, that can automatically try all the combinations for the lock, until the right one is found. If some of the digits are known or suspected, it can be faster.
Locksmiths can access from the factory the exact location to drill to bypass the lock. Afterwards the hole is plugged with a hardened plug. I would assume the location varies and requires the serial number and credentials to get that from the factory.
 
bw

bw

Fringe Ranger
Profit of Doom said:
There are devices, pricey I’m sure, that can automatically try all the combinations for the lock, until the right one is found. If some of the digits are known or suspected, it can be faster.
Click to expand...

Don't need to try the combinations. A rotating gripper can sense when the discs are picked up, and can back-calculate the combination. A person can do the same. A combination is a thief-slower, not a stopper.
 
H

Hometown

No place like home
Milkweed Host said:
Well, it all depends.
If you safe lock is a disc tumbler, yes, it's a walk in the park.
Tubular are more difficult.
Combination locks would be extremely difficult without drilling that little hole for a peep.
Click to expand...
Numbers pushed in the electronic pad.
 
Cardinal

Cardinal

Chickministrator
_______________
OK, so what is she doing living with a guy who picks locks. Is he a professional locksmith?
 
D

Dozdoats

On TB every waking moment
Most 'gun safes' are RSCs - residential security cabinets, and not rated safes. Used to be a rule of thumb was to spend 10% of the value on the contents onthe safe itself. I don't know about now. AmSec is a good brand IMO.
 
C

Calhounshd

Veteran Member
Tell the guy a friend of yours is a herpetologist and he is storing his rattlesnake eggs in the safe temporarily. Then offer him the key and ask him if he will check if any have hatched yet.
 
N

night driver

ESFP adrift in INTJ sea
In MOST cases, if the lock cylinder has a pin-tumbler design a practiced individual can LIKELY rake that cylinder and open the safe in under 15 secs to 3 minutes.

There ARE several caveats to this. I can think of 3 companies who make keyed locks that look like "normal" keyed locks but they are NOT. There are some where the angles ground into the key must match angles ground into the pins.

There are 3D keys using geometric shapes that are required to mate to open the lock.

There are several open for sale locks that are VERY difficult to either pick, bump. or jiggle/wiggle open but the average safe key lock is still in th 15 seconds to 3 minutes range.
 
D

Double_A

TB Fanatic
Milkweed Host said:
Well, it all depends.
If you safe lock is a disc tumbler, yes, it's a walk in the park.
Tubular are more difficult.
Combination locks would be extremely difficult without drilling that little hole for a peep.
Click to expand...

Are you referring to the ACE circular locks? Have you ever seen the pick tool for circular locks on Vending Machines?
night driver said:
In MOST cases, if the lock cylinder has a pin-tumbler design a practiced individual can LIKELY rake that cylinder and open the safe in under 15 secs to 3 minutes.

There ARE several caveats to this. I can think of 3 companies who make keyed locks that look like "normal" keyed locks but they are NOT. There are some where the angles ground into the key must match angles ground into the pins.

There are 3D keys using geometric shapes that are required to mate to open the lock.

There are several open for sale locks that are VERY difficult to either pick, bump. or jiggle/wiggle open but the average safe key lock is still in th 15 seconds to 3 minutes range.
Click to expand...

Angle cuts on Medico to rotate pins as well as up/down, Schlage has their Primus series with a sidebar. "Bumping" remember bumping was all the rage a few years ago. Remove a bit of metal on the key so the stop is moved back, this way the key inserts further and pins don't drop in the center of the key cut, but to the side, then tap a screwdriver handle on the key's bow while using a bit of force to turn, the pins vibrate up down and can catch into place.

Edited for clarity
 
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